Magnets

Magnetism is one of the topics covered in KS2 Science and this quiz is all about magnets. It looks at several characteristics of magnetism, such as magnetic fields, magnetic materials, poles, attraction and repulsion.

Magnets and lodestones both have magnetic fields. Who doesn't love playing with magnets? Magnets are fascinating and useful too. We can use them to make toys or to hold notes to surfaces. Magnets are also used in many scientific machines. Did you know that, because of its magnetic field, the Earth itself is a huge magnet? This magnetic field causes interesting phenomena, such as the Northern and Southern lights.

Do you know which materials are attracted to magnets? Or how we can use magnets to help sort out materials for recycling? Test your knowledge of magnets, magnetism and magnetic fields by trying this quiz.

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The South pole of a magnet dangling at the end of a string would point in which direction?

North

South

Up

Down

The South pole of the magnet would point at the South Pole of the Earth and the North pole of the magnet would point towards the North Pole of the Earth

2.

Electromagnets are temporary magnets. How do we get them to work?

By pointing them north

By placing them inside a thunderstorm

By switching them on

By pointing them south

Electromagnets are very powerful temporary magnets - they are created by allowing electricity to flow through wire coiled around iron or steel

3.

The North pole of a magnet will be attracted to what?

The North pole of another magnet

The South pole of another magnet

Both poles of another magnet

Magnets are not attracted to each other

The South pole of one magnet will be attracted to the North pole of another magnet

4.

Magnets are usually made of which metal?

Gold

Plastic

Copper

Iron

Lodestone, a form of iron, is a naturally magnetic material - and, although you may have plastic magnets on your fridge, this is not the right answer for two reasons: first, plastic is not a metal, and second, it is the magnetised piece of metal included in a plastic 'magnet' that makes it magnetic

5.

When a magnet exerts a pulling force on a material, it 'attracts' the material. What do magnets do when they exert a pushing force on a material??

They create friction with the material

They align with the material

They create electricity with the material

They repel the material

The pushing and pulling forces exerted by magnets are called 'attraction' and 'repulsion'

6.

If you stroke a piece of iron repeatedly (and in the same direction) with a magnet, you can create what?

A permanent magnet

A soft magnet

A temporary magnet

A magnet alloy

You can try this with a pin or needle - stick your temporary magnet in a piece of cork, place it in a bowl of water and watch it point North!

7.

The South pole of a magnet will repel what?

The South pole of another magnet

Both poles of another magnet

The North pole of another magnet

Magnets never repel each other

The North pole of one magnet will repel the North pole of another magnet

8.

Which one of the following does not depend on magnets in order to work?

A compass

Scissors

Modern roller coasters

Electric motors

Did you know that magnets are used to slow roller coasters down and that magnetic repulsion is sometimes used to make roller coasters speed up?

9.

How might temporary magnets lose their magnetism?

If they are dropped

If they are heated

If they are hammered

All of the above

Temporary magnets also lose their magnetism over time

10.

How are magnets useful for separating materials for recycling?

They can separate different kinds of metals

All metals will be attracted to magnets

They can be used to attract aluminium cans

They can be used to attract all materials

Magnets attract some metals like iron and steel, but not others like aluminium